Obscured by Clouds. The rough and ready blog of a cloud benighted biologist and amateur astronomer. Astroblog will cover my interests in astronomy, biology and Life, the Universe and Everything.

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

The Sky This Week - Thursday January 6 to Thursday January 13

The First Quarter Moon is Wednesday January 12. Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. The crescent Moon visits Jupiter on January 10. Venus is visible in the morning sky not far from the bright star Antares with Mercury not far below.

Morning sky looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:00 am daylight saving time on Saturday January 8 showing Venus, Mercury and the bright Antares. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. Click to embiggen.

The First Quarter Moon is Wednesday January 12.

Bright white Venus continues to rise above the eastern morning horizon and is now readily seen in the early morning sky.

Venus, Antares and Mercury form a large triangle in the morning sky. Venus's crescent shape is easily seen in small telescopes. Venus will progressively decrease in size and wax towards "First quarter" over the coming weeks.

Saturn, is high enough for telescopic observation. You might be able too see the big storm on Saturn if your telescope is big enough.

Mercury is low on the eastern horizon at the start of the week, but climbs higher during the week. You will need a clear level eastern horizon initially to see it.

Evening sky looking west showing the Moon, Jupiter and Uranus at 10:00 pm local daylight saving time on Monday January 10. Click to embiggen.

Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen.

Jupiter can be readily seen from twilight until it sets in the early morning. Jupiter now spends most of the evening above the north-western horizon.

Jupiter is excellent in binoculars and small telescopes.

Jupiter and Uranus are still close together, and are readily seen together in binoculars. Uranus is the second brightest object north of Jupiter and the star 20 Piscium. Uranus in fact bright enough to be (just) seen with the unaided eye under dark sky conditions. A binocular spotters map is here.

Jupiter's Moons are always interesting, in binoculars or telescopes of any size. There are lots of opportunities to see cool Jupiter Moon events (scroll down until you hit Jupiter).